5 Reasons Collagen is Your Skin’s Best Friend and a Scar’s Worst Enemy

Anyone who follows the popular new skincare methods knows that collagen is a major beauty buzz word. Men and women are getting collagen injections, skin creams are including collagen in them, and for one reason or another, this ingredient proves to have fantastic effects on the skin.

But what is collagen? Why it is that collagen is so beneficial for the skin, yet so detrimental at the same time? Let’s learn about the truth behind collagen and five reasons why it’s so wonderful for your skin.

What Is Collagen?

Collagen is the most bountiful protein produced by the body. This protein is the substance that is responsible for keeping the entire body together. You can find collagen in your bones, muscles, skin and tendons. Therefore, collagen acts as a scaffolding to provide strength and structure to the entire body.

In fact, collagen makes up one third of the entire human body. The attachment of collagens together form long, thin fibrils. Scientists have determined that collagen houses a family of genetically unique molecules.

Each of these molecules contains a unique triple helix of three polypeptides known as alpha-chains. These chains each contain around 1,000 amino acids, and generally these sequences of amino acids include glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline.

There are actually many different types of collagen. In fact, scientists have discovered at least 16 types of collagen. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of collagens present in the body are types one, two, and three collagens. The collagens found in the human body are incredibly strong and flexible.

Your skin, bones, and connective tissues of the body are rich in collagen. The middle layers of the skin, the dermis, include collagen. The collagen found in the dermis helps to create a fibrous network where new cells can generate and grow effectively.

1. The Anti-Aging Benefits Of Collagen

With the ever present desire to tap into the fountain of youth, products containing collagen has swamped the beauty and skin care realm. For one reason or another, collagen clearly has anti-aging benefits. Here is the exact science behind it all.

Collagen provides the skin with its texture and structure. The protein is non-water soluble, and this property allows it to hold its own weight and then some more. Therefore, collagen can help keep the skin taught and wrinkle free.

Collagen is also quite gentle and non-irritating. Thus, it is the prime ingredient for many skin care creams and lotions. The only myth behind collagen is that using a topical cream filled with collagen does not add to your body’s natural collagen count.

Some people choose to have collagen directly injected into their skin. Collagen injections are infamous amongst celebrities. These injections help tighten up skin, but they have plenty of opportunity to go wrong.

Even though they might work to decrease wrinkles and make other aging signs less noticeable, they only last for about four to six months. Then, you must keep up with them, and they are not cheap. Collagen naturally declines with age. With the reduction of collagen, the skin’s structural integrity breaks. Therefore, you see sagging skin, lines, wrinkles, and weakening of cartilage in the joints.

A product with collagen in it can help smooth skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and enhance the overall color and texture of the skin. Since collagen appears to be the closest thing to the fountain of youth in skincare products, they tend to go for a hefty price.

There are, however, affordable options for you. If you want all of the aforementioned benefits of collagen, and you also want to refrain from putting a huge dent in your checkbook, then find a natural skin treatment from company such as www.DermeffaceFX7.com.

Frugal yet effective products are out there, but it is highly recommended that you speak with your doctor or dermatologist first before trying them. In addition to keeping you looking younger, collagen also has a few more benefits.

2. Fighting The Signs Of Burns With Collagen

First, second, and third degree burns all leave various signs of their presence. While third degree burns are clearly more severe than first or second degree burns, they all leave unwanted scars. Collagen can help promote the proper healing of these scars.

Dermatologists can use collagen in a procedure to create artificial skin. This skin replacement procedure generally attains the collagen from horses or cows, but human collagen is available. Human collagen is pretty expensive.

Experts then use the collagen with your existing skin to generate new, healthy skin. Even though there is no collagen present in your own skin, surgeons can replace it with collagen from another host.

These collagen injections are quite similar to the cosmetic collagen injections mentioned to improve wrinkles and fine lines. Experts perform the same procedure. They inject a fine needle filled with collagen and saline just below the skin. This insertion of collagen will help to fill out the skin with a healthy appearance.

There are some side effects of these injections, including allergic reactions, hives, swelling, and red lumps. If you want a more minimally invasive treatment for burn scars, then there are still options available.

You can find compression bandages over the counter at your local pharmacy. You can also buy topical treatments online or at your local drug store.

Your dermatologist can order prescriptions for you. Be sure to speak with your dermatologist about the option(s) that will work best for you and your skin.

3. Collagen Keeps You Feeling Younger, Too

You now know how collagen can enhance your appearance, whether cosmetic or not. Yet, collagen can also help improve the way your body functions. Truly, collagen has a host of different benefits.

Scientists have now proven, using chickens, that they can use collagen supplements to treat joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Chicken collagen works to alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, which is a considerably painful condition.

In the four trials tested by the Arthritis Research in the United Kingdom, results were astounding. The trials involved anywhere from 100 to 500 participants, and all of them suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.

This research found that the type two collagen helped reduce the swelling of joints, tenderness of joints, and it even improved the patients’ ability to walk quicker with less pain. Experts compared these results with the placebo group.

Also, the result boasted little side effects of those who the researchers administered the varying types of collagen. This is a major benefit, as many pain and joint supplements offer myriads of detrimental side effects.

Research has also shown that collagen supplements, when paired with other protein and amino acid supplements help to improve the performance in athletes. Athletes claim to experience enhanced flexibility and overall mobility.

Additional research has shown that collagen hydrolysate helped to soothe painful symptoms many osteoarthritis patients feel. Not only had the patients experienced reduced pain, their joint function improved, as well. The collagen supplement absorbed well, improved collagen build up in cartilage, and even encouraged specialized cells called chondrocytes to become more active in the joints.

4. Collagen Is Not Just For Your Skin

Collagen is beneficial for the skin’s youthful appearance, but it is also beneficial for hair and nails, as well. Actually, hair and nail health are synonymous with skin health.

Your hair is composed of keratin protein. The proper supply of your body’s amino acids through the blood helps in the production of keratin. When collagen proteins are absorbed and processed into the small intestine, they then increase the production of amino acids. Therefore, through collagen, your body can increase its kertain protein production.

Proper keratin protein production promotes healthy hair and also nails. Fingernails and toenails are composed of keratin, and they rest on a nail bed made up primarily of the dermis layer of skin. Poor skin care leads to unhealthy nail beds. Without healthy nail beds, it is difficult for the nails to remain healthy, as well.

Collagen on its own is beneficial, but it clearly can help other proteins carry out their functions in the most effective way. Currently, scientists are working to maximize the usage of collagen in the medical field. Here are two more additional benefits of collagen.

5. Additional Benefits Of Collagen

Collagen can help with seamless skin grafts for donors in need of prosthetics. Experts have made peripheral nerve regeneration and vascular prosthesis easier by using collagen tissue grafts.

Also, experts are using collagen membranes to improve the quality of periodontal and implant therapy. These procedures work to promote the regrowth of various types of cells. Oral surgery requires barriers to prevent fast-growing cells from migrating to a wound. The preservation of this space is imperative for tooth cells to regenerate properly.

If purchasing a skin care product is not entirely in your plans, there are a few ways to increase your collagen production naturally. Here are some ways to enhance your body’s collagen production.

Laser Therapy

Professionals use laser therapy to increase the body’s natural collagen production. This type of procedure can help to reduce brown spotting, wrinkles, fine lines, enlarged pores, sagging skin and even spider veins.

The laser beam rejuvenates the skin or regenerates the cells in a healthy manner. Originally, this process involved stripping the layer of the epidermis and small portions of the top dermis layer. The problem with this process was that there was too much down time involved in the healing process.

Today, scientists have worked to improve the process. Experts have developed Non-ablative lasers. These types of lasers protect the skin and leave them in tact when the regeneration of the deep dermal skin is in process. With this new form of laser therapy, there is considerably minimal risk and side effects.

Amino Acids

All proteins are composed of amino acids, and collagen is no exception. Out of the amino acids, only nine are essential. The body cannot synthesize these amino acids. Therefore, you should include these nine amino acids through your diet.

Foods rich in these nine amino acids include chia and hemp seeds, lean meats such as pork chops or ham, chicken, egg and seafood.

Eliminate Some Bad Habits

Smoking and high sugar diets only work to kill collagen production. Sugar increases the rate of glycation, which in turn causes collagen to become dry, brittle, and weak.

Smoking similarly damages collagen and elastin due to the high levels of chemicals present in cigarettes. Nicotine works to narrow the body’s blood vessels, which reduces the ability of nutrients and oxygen to flow through to the skin.

Truly, without proper collagen production your skin will never look healthy, and your body’s functioning might suffer. To look and feel your best, decide which ways to include collagen into your diet and daily routine.